Declan Rice is an English professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and the England national team. Known for his stamina, strength, ball carrying ability and tackling, he is regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.

Rice began his professional career at West Ham United, having been released by Chelsea's academy, and established himself as a key first-team player by 2017. In 2022, he succeeded Mark Noble as club captain, and led the club to a UEFA Europa Conference League title the following year, as well as being named the competition's Player of the Season. After making 245 appearances for West Ham, Rice was signed by Arsenal in July 2023 for a club record fee of £100 million, making him the joint-most-expensive English player in history.

Declan Rice was born on 14 January 1999 in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, where he was raised. His paternal grandparents were from Douglas, County Cork, in Ireland. He joined the academy of Chelsea in 2006, as a seven-year-old.

Rice has been a close friend of Mason Mount since childhood from when they played together at Chelsea's academy. His cousin, Finley Munroe, is also a professional footballer for Aston Villa. In March 2019, Rice apologised for pro-Irish Republican Army comments he made on social media in 2015. In August 2022, Rice confirmed the birth of his first child, a son, with long-term girlfriend, Lauren Fryer.